Seminar on Japanese way to go regional, global
By Azlan Othman 

Bruneian businessmen, government officials and students will have the opportunity to learn from experience in the field of developing entreprenuership and encourage them to embrace a true entrepreneurial approach themselves through an upcoming entrepreneurship seminar. The seminar, jointly organised by the Japanese Embassy and the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, will be held at the Empire Hotel & Country Club on May 24, 2003.

Japanese entrepreneurs will be relating their successes to indicate key factors that new entrepreneurs can use when focusing on the international market.

With rapid globalisation changing the face of modern business, the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) has adopted a new industrial diversification policy which includes the investment of US$4.5 billion and the creation of at least 6,000 new permanent jobs through a two-pronged strategy.

Firstly, the strategy aims to develop oil and gas downstream industries at Sg. Liang, along with the development of a new hub port at the industrial site at Pulau Muara Besar. Secondly, the strategy is to diversify existing monocultural oil and gas industries.

Through such diversification, the strategy aims to create a niche in the market for local businesses. It is hoped that the BEDB will identify industry clusters with the potential for growth in Brunei.

As local companies go through the process of development, it is important that they are guided by proactive entrepreneurship. The key to success therefore, is how to promote, encourage and help develop entrepreneurship on the local front.

The Brunei government recognises the importance of such development and this has been made clear by the setting up of the Department of Trade and Entrepreneur Development. Japan is eager to support Brunei in its advancement in this area. It is believed that this mega-trend in business operation help create a business niche for Brunei. It is thus vital to target the global or regional market, rather than the small Bruneian domestic market. Japan hopes to assist Brunei in embracing this new trend and ultimately finding their niche in the two markets.

Interested participants can register for the seminar at the Department of Trade and Entrepreneur Development at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources by contacting Dr Joselito F. Santiago or Ms Ho Pei Fang at the Embassy of Japan.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin